
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Nick Wass/AP/Shutterstock (13612913pc) Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) takes to the field before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, in Landover, Md Vikings Commanders Football, Landover, United States – 06 Nov 2022
NFL Sunday Preview, Week 12: Bengals-Titans, Falcons-Commanders highlight post-Thanksgiving football feast
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-5) at Cleveland Browns (3-7)
Time/TV: noon CT/FOX
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading to Cleveland for Sunday’s matchup with the Browns, hoping to finally move back above .500 for the season and looking to maintain first place in a poor NFC South. Cleveland’s season, meanwhile, teeters on the brink of irrelevance ahead of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s return from suspension next Sunday in Houston. Browns’ backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett has won over his teammates this season but is already well aware that Sunday afternoon’s game is his last chance to make an impression for the foreseeable future. Tampa Bay is fresh off a bye week, having last played two weeks ago in Munich against the Seahawks. The Buccaneers had an effective rushing attack in that game, something they’ll look to replicate against a Browns’ defense allowing 135 yards on the ground per game. Cleveland, who always wants to run the ball with their two-headed monster of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, will undoubtedly attempt to do the same – and may find success, especially if Bucs’ defensive tackle Vita Vea is unable to play.
Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) at Tennessee Titans (7-3)
Time/TV: noon CT/CBS
The Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans have grown familiar with each other of late, and the Titans enter Sunday’s matchup in Nashville feeling like they have a score to settle. Cincinnati’s 19-16 divisional round win on Jan. 22 ended Tennessee’s run as the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season. The Titans’ main strength this season has been their defense, which has held seven straight opponents to under 20 points. They will face a stiff challenge in the Bengals, who seemingly are expecting to have star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase back on the field. They won’t have Joe Mixon, who will miss Sunday’s game due to a concussion – instead, they will lean on Samaje Perine to continue his touchdown-scoring habit from a week ago. For Cincinnati’s defense, the biggest challenge will be dealing with Tennessee’s battering ram running back Derrick Henry. The Bengals’ defense has been slightly below average against the run but really cannot afford to be if they hope to top the Titans. The matchup has massive playoff implications for these AFC foes and is likely to stay close throughout.
Chicago Bears (3-8) at New York Jets (6-4)
Time/TV: noon CT/FOX
The Chicago Bears’ trip to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Jets probably wasn’t circled on the calendars of many fans preseason, but it has become increasingly intriguing as this season has gone along. New York finds themselves in the middle of a playoff race, winning games people don’t expect them to en route to a 6-4 record. Chicago hasn’t been nearly as fortunate in the win column, especially in November. The Bears have lost four in a row, but each of their last three defeats has come by three points or less. Sunday’s big question heading into this matchup is the status of Bears’ quarterback Justin Fields, who is expected to be a game-time decision. Fields ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing, leading an offense that is extremely watchable if not successful. The New York Jets figure to enter Sunday afternoon’s game with a chip on their shoulder, fresh off an embarrassing performance that saw them barely crack 100 yards of offense against the Patriots. New York is also making a quarterback change, moving to Mike White in Zach Wilson’s stead after Wilson’s poor play and snappy responses to the media.
Atlanta Falcons (5-6) at Washington Commanders (6-5)
Time/TV: noon CT/FOX
It’s hard to argue that any team in the NFL has turned its season around as effectively as Washington. The Commanders have won five of six since starting the season 1-4 and four of five since Taylor Heinicke replaced Carson Wentz at quarterback. Atlanta’s season has been more of a constant oscillation between positive results (wins over San Francisco and Seattle) with ugly losses to teams like Carolina and the L.A. Rams. The Falcons, who still find themselves in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt, have built their success on the NFL’s third-ranked run game. Replicating that against Washington’s talented front seven will be no easy task, but one they’re much better prepared for with Cordarrelle Patterson back healthy. For Washington’s offense, it’s all about feeding off quarterback Taylor Heinicke’s energy. Heinicke has found a consistent connection with Terry McLaurin and is getting decent help from the Commanders’ rushing tandem of Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. While both teams are excited just to be playing a meaningful game after Thanksgiving, only one will emerge with a much-needed win that could catapult them to bigger things this season.
Denver Broncos (3-7) at Carolina Panthers (3-8)
Time/TV: noon CT/FOX
Neither the Denver Broncos nor the Carolina Panthers have had banner seasons, although much more was expected of Russell Wilson and Denver, while the expectations were not nearly as lofty for Carolina. The Broncos’ defense has been a consistent force, allowing just 17.1 points per game and holding five of their last six opponents to 19 points or fewer. The offense, however, has been an utter disappointment. Both Denver and Carolina rank in the NFL’s bottom eight in points scored per game, making it hard to imagine either side getting to 20. The Panthers are making every effort to shake things up, starting their third different quarterback of the season in Sam Darnold. Finding immediate success against Denver’s defense will be extremely difficult for the journeyman signal caller, but he probably won’t need more than a few big plays in a game that will likely be played in the teens.
Baltimore Ravens (7-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7)
Time/TV: noon CT/CBS
The Jacksonville Jaguars hope their Week 11 bye has them fresh and ready for Sunday afternoon when the Baltimore Ravens come to TIAA Bank Field. Despite Jacksonville’s 3-7 record, they’ve only been beaten by more than one score on one occasion all season. The Jaguars boast the NFL’s seventh-ranked rushing attack, keyed by rookie Travis Etienne – but if Baltimore’s third-ranked rush defense has anything to say about it, Trevor Lawrence will have to beat the Ravens through the air. An argument could be made that the Ravens didn’t look sharp at all last weekend versus Carolina, but their four consecutive wins tell a different story. Baltimore ranks in the top 10 in the NFL in both points scored and points allowed and has been really dominant in the run game, where they rank second. Jacksonville’s 2022 is hanging to relevance by a thread, while Baltimore looks to maintain a lead atop the AFC North in a clash of motivated foes.
Los Angeles Chargers (5-5) at Arizona Cardinals (4-7)
Time/TV: 3:05 p.m. CT/CBS
The Arizona Cardinals’ 2022 season has come under scrutiny with HBO’s Hard Knocks following the team closely, but Kliff Kingsbury’s team needs to focus on the task at hand in a hurry if they hope to stay within shouting distance of the spots that matter in the standings. Arizona returns from a high-elevation blowout loss Monday in Mexico City, a game that ended with ESPN announcer Troy Aikman all but accusing them of quitting on the field. They welcome the Los Angeles Chargers into State Farm Stadium late Sunday afternoon, who is currently riding a two-game skid of their own as their schedule has toughened of late. The Chargers’ powerful passing game will look to take advantage of Arizona’s below-average numbers against aerial attacks and got a huge lift last week with Keenan Allen’s return to action. Arizona’s offense is also getting healthier, with Kyler Murray and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown both set to return to the lineup Sunday. Look for the Cardinals to do all they can to create a successful rushing attack against the Chargers’ 30th-ranked rush defense by yardage allowed per game.
Las Vegas Raiders (3-7) at Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
Time/TV: 3:05 p.m. CT/CBS
The Seattle Seahawks return home Sunday afternoon to take on the Las Vegas Raiders following their bye week, hoping to eliminate the sour taste of their loss to the Buccaneers in Munich. Las Vegas finally got back in the win column a week ago in Denver, topping the Broncos 22-16 after a dramatic overtime finish. Seattle enters the game hoping to keep pace with the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West, and the best route to doing so will be with a dominant offensive performance. Las Vegas ranks 28th defensively in yardage allowed entering Week 12, opening up opportunities for Seattle’s multifaceted and healthy offense to motor up and down the field. Fortunately for Vegas, Seattle only ranks one spot ahead of them defensively – and after quarterback Derek Carr connected with Davante Adams for last Sunday’s game-winning score, they’re hoping the Seahawks’ young secondary provides ample opportunity to continue honing in on that chemistry. Defensive stops will be at a premium Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field and will likely determine who emerges victorious in a game with shootout written all over it.
Los Angeles Rams (3-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-2)
Time/TV: 3:25 p.m. CT/FOX
The 2022 season has gone south in a hurry for the reigning Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams and has a good chance of unraveling further when they head to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for a date with the Kansas City Chiefs. Los Angeles is a shell of the team it opened the season with, especially on the offensive side of the football. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose connection keyed last year’s run to a title, are both unavailable due to injury. Even backup quarterback John Wolford is unavailable, leaving third-string signal caller Bryce Perkins in charge of the offense behind a beat-up offensive line. Kansas City’s top-ranked offense in the NFL likely won’t need to do anything transcendent to handle business at home, although they’re certainly capable. A win would move the Chiefs to 9-2, tightening their stranglehold on the AFC’s top seed as the season moves into the home stretch.
New Orleans Saints (4-7) at San Francisco 49ers (6-4)
Time/TV: 3:25 p.m. CT/FOX
The San Francisco 49ers have truly hit their stride of late, and talking heads everywhere are noticing. They’re becoming a trendy pick to lift the Lombardi Trophy in February, a direct result of an offense and a defense dominating simultaneously. The New Orleans Saints visit the 49ers Sunday afternoon, hoping to slow down what feels like a freight train while building on their own win over the Rams last Sunday. One factor working in the Saints’ favor is San Francisco’s potential fatigue, as the 49ers come home on short rest after playing a game more than 7,000 feet above sea level. If the Saints are to pull off the upset, they’ll need to avoid the turnovers (19 in total, most in the NFL) that they’ve sabotaged themselves with this season. 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been lights out of late, passing for four touchdowns last weekend while not having thrown an interception in more than a month. The offense around him is as full of weapons as any in the league after San Francisco’s acquisition of Christian McCaffrey, making his life easy in the pocket.
Green Bay Packers (4-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-1)
Time/TV: 7:20 p.m. CT/NBC
Every time the Green Bay Packers think they’re turning a corner in 2022, they’ve seemingly fallen flat on their faces a week later. Two weeks ago, a come-from-behind home win over the powerful Dallas Cowboys moved Green Bay to 4-6, giving them a fighting chance in the NFC Playoff hunt – but after last Thursday’s punchless second half and resulting home loss to Tennessee, things are once again looking bleak at Lambeau. Green Bay now heads into a hornet’s nest at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where the 9-1 Eagles have been circling their prey all season. Philadelphia’s comeback win last weekend against Indianapolis was an excellent response to their first real adversity of the season, avoiding a two-game losing streak and ensuring they would maintain their lead over the Minnesota Vikings in the race for the NFC’s top seed. After Minnesota’s Thanksgiving night win over New England, the Eagles know that taking care of business against Green Bay would go a long way toward ensuring the NFC Playoffs run through Lincoln Financial Field.